• Emma Raducanu arrived in Melbourne late after reaching the Hobart quarterfinals and was unhappy with her Australian Open schedule.
  • Raducanu was given a second night session on Margaret Court Arena, potentially starting very late after a five-set men’s match.
  • She says limited practice time and a managed foot injury make the late start a challenging situation.
  • Raducanu will face Thai debutant Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the first round.

H2: Raducanu frustrated by tight turnaround and late match slot

Emma Raducanu, seeded 28th at the Australian Open 2026, expressed frustration with the tournament’s scheduling after arriving in Melbourne on Friday following a run to the Hobart International quarterfinals. Raducanu said she was forced to “scramble” to prepare and only planned her first practice late on Saturday.

“It’s very difficult. You would love to have more time in the environment, more time practising,” Raducanu said, adding she was trying to make “the most out of what is in front of me.” The British No. 1 was assigned a second night-session on Margaret Court Arena on the tournament’s opening day, meaning her match could begin very late if the preceding men’s match went the distance.

H3: Concerns over scheduling after potential five-set matches

Raducanu criticised scheduling women’s matches after the possibility of five-set men’s encounters, calling it a situation that “doesn’t really make as much sense.” She acknowledged the need to adapt, noting that she has limited experience with very late starts, having only previously played a night match late in a US Open semi-final.

“The season is so long. I just want to try and work my way into this year,” she added, stressing she did not want to get bogged down in complaints and instead planned to focus on the match.

H4: Injury management and form concerns

Raducanu has battled a foot injury in the pre-season that limited her court time. She said the foot is “definitely a lot better” and that she has been managing the issue for months. Her recent results showed mixed form: a loss to Maria Sakkari at the United Cup, a win over Camila Osorio in Hobart, and a defeat to local player Taylah Preston.

“That’s probably why I’m a bit short of match sharpness,” Raducanu admitted, but she emphasised steady progress and a belief that things will “slot into place at some point.”

H3: First-round opponent — unknown quantity

On paper, Raducanu’s round-one opponent, 23-year-old Thai player Mananchaya Sawangkaew, ranked around 195, is an underdog and making her Grand Slam debut. Raducanu warned that opponents coming through many matches — even at lower ITF levels — can be dangerous because of match rhythm and momentum.

“I think it’s a very dangerous opponent, a very dangerous situation to be in. You don’t know that much about them, so there is that element of surprise, too,” she said.

H5: What to watch

Watch for how Raducanu handles the late-night conditions, whether the foot continues to respond under match pressure, and how quickly she regains rhythm against a debuting Sawangkaew. The match will give an early indication of the British No. 1’s readiness for the Australian Open.

Image Referance: https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/47636715/australian-open-2026-emma-raducanu-hits-scheduling